Entry Requirements
All visitors to the Dominican Republic must have a valid passport and a tourist card, which can be purchased for $10 at the airport. The card is valid for up to 90 days and must be filled in before going through immigration.
As of Dec 2006, US travelers must have passport to exit/enter the country.
Traveling with Children
Children under the age of 13 who are traveling with a parent or legal guardian are not required to have a passport but should carry a birth certificate. Children traveling with non-parents should have a passport. Before traveling, check with the Dominican Republic consulate to be sure the requirements have not changed
Language
Spanish is the official language in the Dominican Republic, but in a large majority of tourist areas, English, French, Italian and German are also spoken. The Spanish spoken here differs from the Spanish of Spain. It is less formal and idioms are often used as a staple in conversations.
Credit Cards and Currency
The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso which is divided into 100 centavos. Most hotels, shops and restaurants will accept credit cards, with some or no surcharge, but not all of them. However, you have to keep in mind that many other establishments - especially smaller ones with lower prices farther from the tourist areas or out of town, may not accept credit cards so be sure to carry some cash.
Tipping
In the Dominican Republic restaurants, a 16 % government tax is automatically added to your bill, as well as a 10% service charge. Many times, the waiter or waitress does not end up with this money so it is always nice to leave an additional 5-10% for good service. The porters, doorman, waiters, gas station employees and other workers want a tip for their services as well since their wages are very low and many times, it represents their only income.
Electricity
Standard current is 110 volt AC, the same as in the US and Canada. The plugs are of the two-prong type so an adapter may be needed for three prongs.
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